Minimally Invasive Surgery Specialist Q&A

For most people, when we hear the word surgery, the first things that come to mind are usually long hospital stays, pain, long recovery times, and scarring. A minimally invasive procedure is a term that defines any surgery that is less invasive by using smaller incisions compared to conventional surgery. Minimally invasive procedures require only one or more small incisions. The surgeon uses an endoscope, which is a thin tube that contains cameras and lights that fit through the small incisions to provide a view of the area needing surgery. Clear and magnified images from the camera are displayed on a screen in the operating room where, without opening a lot of skin and muscle, the surgeon is able to perform the necessary surgery through small incisions.

There are several advantages to patients who undergo minimally invasive surgery:

– Smaller incision size – the most significant benefit.
– Significantly less bleeding – due to small incision size.
– Short hospital stay – some minimally invasive surgeries can be performed on an outpatient basis.
– Fast recovery – due to smaller incisions, healing is quicker.
– Less scarring – due to smaller incisions, less scarring occurs.
– More accurate – due to the camera, a surgeon can perform a more accurate surgery.

Minimally invasive surgical techniques can operate with far less damage, or trauma to the skin’s surface, adding to the above benefits. Most often, minimally invasive procedures performed at InovoSpine are done on an out-patient basis, requiring no stitches, and recovery is normally just a few days.

A big difference between minimally invasive surgery and conventional, or traditional surgery, is in the name itself. This surgical procedure is far less invasive because it requires very small incisions into the skin. Whereas traditional surgical procedures require one large incision to allow the surgeon to see the area and perform a certain procedure. A significant difference between minimally invasive surgery and traditional surgery is some surgical procedures cannot be accomplished without invasive surgery. For example, removal of a cancerous tumor, or organ transplant, or conditions like scoliosis and other cancers or trauma. Another difference between traditional vs. minimally invasive surgery is that it doesn’t actually affect the patient. For the patient, preparation for the procedure is usually exactly the same, depending of course on the type of surgery. However, for the surgeon, more preparation and reviewing of the images are required to gain a better understanding of the 3-D anatomy, which actually provides more information than viewing the anatomy directly, resulting in far fewer complications or surprises.

As technology in the field of minimally invasive surgical procedures continues to advance, with over 1 million minimally invasive procedures performed every year in the U.S. alone, it is becoming a much more viable option than traditional surgeries for millions of people who suffer from a wide range of conditions. There are many areas of spinal movement in a person’s back that can be the location of a problem, and some spinal problems affect more than one level of movement, affecting more than one vertebra. The fewer the number of vertebrae involved, the more likely a minimally invasive procedure will be an option. Minimally invasive procedures can make a huge difference for the patient, with shorter recovery times and less pain. Anyone who has been recommended for surgery should consult with their doctor regarding the benefits of minimally invasive vs. open procedures. After determining the root cause and exact location of the spinal pain through a process called diagnostic mapping, a minimally invasive procedure is performed to relieve the pain.

Our team of highly skilled physicians at InovoSpine in Houston specialize in minimally invasive procedures, regenerative medicine, and diagnostic mapping, among many other medical services. Our medical professionals and our staff take great pride in offering our community the highest level of spinal pain relief they need and deserve. For more information, contact us or schedule an online appointment. We serve patients from Houston TX, Hedwig Village TX, Meadows Place TX, Missouri City TX, Hunters Creek Village TX, Spring Valley Village TX, and surrounding areas.